There is a lot of truth in saying that I did not know what I was doing or where I was going in life for some time. I felt a calling toward horses, though I could not articulate why. Something about their energy and their ability to affect their surroundings impacted me long before I had language for it. Even before knowing about this feeling of being drawn towards something larger than myself, there was something keeping this calling close to my heart.
As a young woman approaching college, it was time to make a decision about where I would go next in life. When I began researching schools in Texas that offered Agricultural Programs and Equine classes, Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas stood out. It was well known in the area, and its proximity to where I grew up made the opportunity feel tangible and within reach.
Once I began learning more about schools that taught agriculture, something felt more genuine. This field of study felt closer to home, even though I grew up in the middle of the metroplex and had never stepped foot onto a farm. For a long time, I believed my city perspective would limit me. I thought success in agriculture required experience in 4H or growing up on a family farm. I did not have that background. What I did have was a deep understanding of what it meant to live in a city and depend entirely on infrastructure and systems that most people rarely question. I understood what it felt like to be surrounded by people while having little access to land or animals. That was my everyday life, and I could only imagine the world I would be exposed to once I left for college.
There were seasons when I questioned whether I had made the right choice studying Agriculture. At one point I nearly changed my undergraduate major to Psychology because I wondered if focusing on people would feel more relevant or more aligned with long term success. Ultimately, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science Production. I spent years studying species and breeds typically raised in farm settings, including commercial agriculture. We studied reproductive systems, breeding processes, and the distinguishing characteristics of sheep, goats, cattle, chickens, pigs, and more. Horses remained a specialized area of study, often serving unique roles within agricultural systems.
As my studies progressed, I became increasingly interested in how animals are ideally cared for in both small and large operations and in the ethical frameworks that guide that care. Animals raised for production are part of a larger system, and it is the responsibility of an agriculturist to use as much of the animal as possible when harvested for consumption. This includes what many would consider miscellaneous uses, such as materials incorporated into makeup, chewing gum, toothpaste, alcohol production, and countless other industries. Labeling and marketing were also studied extensively. We were trained to interpret labels accurately and educate those unfamiliar with agriculture. During this time I began to understand how perception is shaped and how marketing often influences understanding.
It was then that I recognized a significant gap between what producers were doing to care for animals and land and what consumers believed about the industry. That gap stayed with me. What struck me most during that season of learning was how expansive agriculture truly is. It carries stewardship. It carries systems. It carries responsibility to animals, to land, to water, to families, and to future generations. The deeper I studied, the more I saw agriculture positioned at the intersection of biology, economics, psychology, policy, and human behavior. Few industries influence daily life so directly, yet many people remain disconnected from the systems that sustain them.
Over time, I understood that translation was needed. There had to be someone willing to speak both languages, the language of agriculture and the language of the everyday consumer, with clarity and integrity. That realization shaped my graduate path. After completing my Bachelor’s degree, I knew I was not finished. I pursued a Master of Science in Agricultural and Consumer Resources because I had developed a passion for building a bridge between agriculture and the public.
Having grown up in the city, I understood the consumer perspective intimately. I also understood the reality of the industry I had invested years learning. Graduate school expanded that perspective further. I studied how farmers adapt to new technologies, examined the psychology of learning and the willingness of different groups to embrace change, and explored how to advocate for agriculture and for people in ways that promote understanding rather than division.
Even after earning my Master’s degree, I still found myself waking up and wondering where I was going with my career and with my life. My professional experience ranged from food handling and manufacturing to generating nutrition labels for small businesses. As I moved into broader manufacturing industries, I began to recognize how applicable agricultural knowledge truly is across sectors. The systems thinking, the regulatory awareness, the production planning, and the ethical considerations extend far beyond the farm.
Throughout that time, I realized something important about myself. I am not wired to collect information for the sake of collecting it. I am wired to apply it. Education, for me, was meant to help people think differently, plan thoughtfully, and operate with confidence. Consulting became a natural extension of that belief. It allows me to equip families, landowners, and organizations with clarity before they make decisions that will shape decades of their lives.
When I look at the current state of our world, including rising food costs, unstable supply chains, political volatility, and growing distrust in institutions, I feel a renewed sense of purpose. Many people sense that independence matters, yet the pathway toward it often feels overwhelming. Property ownership, food production, thoughtful planning, and multigenerational stability require structure and foresight. They require someone willing to look at the full system rather than a single moving part.
It has become my mission to transfer the skills and experience I have gained to the public through blog posts, educational resources, and consulting services offered alongside my husband, a civil engineer. Together, we aim to participate in this new frontier by providing grounded strength and practical clarity. My work focuses on tangible benefits for clients who need guidance and structure.
As an Agricultural Consultant, I provide clarity in areas that often feel complex. Many families purchase land with excitement but without a comprehensive systems plan. I help clients evaluate water sourcing and management, soil quality and land capability, livestock feasibility, orchard design, infrastructure placement, and order of implementation based on long term function. I work with families to design property use that supports aging parents and growing children, align agricultural production with family capacity, and create sustainable food systems that can scale over time.
For Texas landowners, understanding exemptions, documentation, stocking rates, and compliance standards can feel intimidating. I help property owners navigate these systems in ways that are organized, ethical, and aligned with their goals. Agriculture continues to evolve, and from facility layout optimization and feed management to recordkeeping structures, label compliance, and production planning, I help operations improve efficiency while maintaining integrity.
Perhaps most importantly, I serve as a translator. I work with urban families entering rural life, businesses seeking alignment with sustainability, consumers desiring transparency, and producers seeking clearer communication. The gap between agriculture and the public can be addressed with thoughtful dialogue and informed guidance.
Choosing Agriculture was never only about animals. It was about understanding the foundation of civilization. Over time, I came to see that this path prepared me to stand at the intersection of land, people, systems, and truth. Agricultural Consulting allows me to help others navigate that intersection with clarity.
In a world that feels increasingly unstable, I believe independence deserves intention.
This is the path I choose.
Written By
Marisa Herzer
I am an Agricultural Consultant, writer, and co-founder of Frontier West with a background in Animal Science Production and Agricultural and Consumer Resources. My work is rooted in helping people understand the systems behind land, food, sustainability, and long term independence.
Through Rooted & Resilient, I share practical guidance, reflection, and education for those seeking a more grounded, thoughtful relationship with the land and the life they are building.
Rooted in sustainability. Resilient in life.
